Beika Theater.
As soon as they arrived, Kurosawa Hoshino discovered that a TV station was actually doing a live broadcast, and Rena Mizunashi was among them.
His expression changed instantly. He was about to dive back into the car, but it was already too late.
"Kurosawa-kun!"
Someone shouted, and the TV crew fell silent for a moment before immediately erupting into noise.
"Kurosawa-kun? Where? Where?"
"Over there, by the police cars. I see him."
"Hurry, hurry, don't let Kurosawa-kun get away."
Amid the shouts, a crowd rushed over, scaring Inspector Megure and the police officers into shielding Kurosawa Hoshino and the three girls in the middle.
"Everyone, don't be rash. Calm down. If you interfere with our police investigation, don't blame me for throwing you in a cell."
Inspector Megure warned sternly.
Unfortunately, it was completely useless.
"Kurosawa-kun, were you invited by the police to solve the case?"
"Kurosawa-kun, how much do you know about this case? How long do you think it'll take you to solve it?"
"Kurosawa-kun, which of the three girls beside you is your girlfriend? Or are they all your girlfriends?"
"Excuse me, are these two look-alike girls twins?"
Faced with countless questions and the crushing crowd, Inspector Megure and the police didn't dare delay. They escorted Kurosawa Hoshino and the others forward, squeezing through.
After a huge effort, with sweat beading on everyone's foreheads, they finally made it to the entrance of Beika Theater.
"Phew~" Aoko let out a breath, saying nervously, "That was terrifying."
"Yeah." Ran and Sonoko were also shaken.
"I feel like I forgot something," Kurosawa Hoshino said, trying hard to think but unable to remember.
"Me too," Sonoko agreed.
"Could it be them?" Aoko weakly pointed outside the glass door.
Kurosawa Hoshino and the others looked and saw, behind the crowd of reporters and near the police cars, Conan and Ayumi and the other two kids jumping up and down anxiously. If not for the police holding them back, they probably would have charged over.
They suddenly realized what they'd forgotten—a group of kids. But there was nothing to say about it; with so many people, it was better they didn't come.
"Inspector Megure, please let me in. I'm live broadcasting," Rena Mizunashi said, holding a microphone with her camera crew, addressing Inspector Megure, who was blocking the door.
Hearing that, Inspector Megure shook his head, his expression serious. "Reporter Mizunashi, I can't allow that. There's been a murder inside. I really can't let you broadcast."
"Inspector Megure, you misunderstand. We'll only film the people inside and Kurosawa-kun. We won't film the crime scene or the victim."
"That's still not allowed."
"Sigh, all right then. I'll go in later."
"Huh?" Inspector Megure didn't understand.
Then his phone rang. He glanced at it—it was his superior—and answered, speaking quietly.
A short while later, he hung up, waved at the officers, and let Rena Mizunashi and her crew in.
"Thank you." Rena Mizunashi nodded at Inspector Megure.
"Sigh—" Inspector Megure sighed helplessly. "Reporter Mizunashi, please don't say anything out of line. Don't interfere with our police and Brother Hoshino's investigation."
"Understood. We're only broadcasting." After saying that, Rena Mizunashi and her cameraman walked at the back.
"Brother Hoshino." Inspector Megure came up to Kurosawa Hoshino and said quietly, "I don't know how Nichiuri TV negotiated with the higher-ups, but they're going to broadcast this case live. Brother, you'd better be careful—a lot of people will probably be watching you solve it."
"I see." Kurosawa Hoshino nodded. He wasn't afraid. He hadn't antagonized the Black Organization, so he wasn't worried about being broadcast.
And so, the large group entered the performance hall.
On the stage, several police officers were questioning a group of people in costumes.
"Inspector Megure." An officer saw him enter and quickly called out.
"Mm." Inspector Megure nodded with full authority.
The scene made Kurosawa Hoshino want to laugh. After all, they all casually called him "Inspector Megure," while others had to address him more formally.
"How's the investigation going?" Inspector Megure asked.
"Inspector, we've got the details. At the time of the incident, they were rehearsing their performance. We haven't yet determined who had the opportunity to commit the crime."
"Names?"
"Troupe leader Ito Tamanosuke, 17 years old. He took over after his father passed away—"
What followed was a series of name introductions. There were five other performers: two men and three women.
The two men: Muraki Ryuichi and Tajima Kenzo.
The three women: Shirai Yuri, Ogihara Itoe, and the seven-year-old Ito Megumi, Ito Tamanosuke's younger sister.
As for the victim: male, Chikaraishi Tetsuo, the troupe's scriptwriter.
In a bar.
Gin stared at the live broadcast on the wall-mounted TV, forgetting even to drink, his eyes fixed on the screen.
Beside him, Vodka said quietly, "Brother, I think this kid is a bit of a playboy. Now there's another girl, and she looks exactly like the one called Ran. Tsk tsk, I didn't know he liked twins."
Not far away, quite a few organization members were watching the broadcast—Amuro Tooru, Chianti, and more. There were at least a dozen of them.
Vermouth, sitting not far from Gin, heard Vodka and said flatly, "Young people are like that. They love playing these love triangles, or love quadrangles."
"Hey, Bourbon, do you think he can solve the case quickly? And who do you think the culprit is?" Chianti asked Amuro Tooru, who was quietly drinking beside her.
Amuro Tooru smiled. "Kurosawa-kun should be able to solve it quickly. After all, he's never failed once so far. As for who the culprit is, they only just introduced the names. I can't determine that unless more details are revealed later."
"Tsk tsk, you call him Kurosawa-kun too?"
"The internet and newspapers call him that, so I do too."
"Heh~" Chianti laughed, licked her lips, and said quietly, "The famous high school detective, so soft and tender—"
Before she could finish, she felt a chill down her back. An unease welled up inside her, as if something terrifying was watching her.
She couldn't help but scan her surroundings, but found nothing wrong. She muttered inwardly, "Just my imagination?"
"What are you planning to do to him?" Amuro Tooru asked casually.
"Nothing." Chianti shrugged. "I just feel like he shows up in the news too often. I recognize him now. It's kind of interesting."
Not far away, Gin and Vermouth heard her answer and finally withdrew their cold gazes.